Corset



(No Model.)

A. H; TRAVBR.

CORSET.

No. 336,768. Pgutented Feb. 23, 1886.

u. PETERS. mac-ma a Walhington. o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALX A H. TRAVER, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAX.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,768, dated February 23, 1886.

- Application filed September 1-2, 1885. Serial No. 176,887. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVA H. TRAVER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to combined shoulderbraces and stays or corsets; and the novelty consists in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

The essential object of the invention is to so support the human form as to apply the supporting appliances to the vertebra and the front abdominal portions and leave the lungs and adjacent parts free for the necessary movements of respiration.

In most corsets the front and side bones extend upward to such distance that their confining influence impedes the full action of the lungs, while the bones in the back are arranged Vertically and give a pressure upon all parts alike.

I seek to provide a corset which will have a sufficient number of vertical bones to properly but gently support the vertebra, and a number of diagonal bones, which extend from the line of the vertebra in the direction of the tops of the shoulder, thus passing over the shoulder-blade upon each side, and bearing upon said shoulder-blade protuberance with a constant but gentle force to induce the wearer to throw the shoulders back and expand the chest. This feature of itself is not entirely new with me, as in amodified form it is shown in Patent No. 235,340, of 1880; but my im provements upon that invention lie in the fact that I apply these diagonal bones over the entire shoulder-blade upon each side and leave the lower parts upon either side of the vertebra and below the arm-pits free from bones. My front bones support the abdominal and stomachic regions, but leave the chest entirely free from restraint.

Corsets as heretofore constructed have too many bones, and I believe that the bones ordinarily placed along the sides and under the armpits are not only without utility, but harmful. I provide for a gentle support for the vertebra and for the soft parts-the abdomen and stomach-whileI leave the sides untrammeled by bones, thus allowing the body to bend to either side and the ribs to have free movement. I provide that the breasts (per se) shall be left without undue compression, and that the chest shall be free to expand without any confining influence whatever. and operating importantly with these provisions for freedom of the chest I provide the pressure upon the shoulder-blades to induce a full expansion.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a diagram showing the form of the several parts of the corset separated. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a corset broken and ex tended to show the construction with the parts secured together. Fig. 3 is a back view ofa completed corset, and Fig. 4 a front view, both these latter views being slightly in perspective.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the back-piece, cut in one line with the yoke A. It is provided with long vertical bones p p p and with short vertical bones 12 These bones are inclosed in pockets in the ordinary man ner, and the long bones pass up either side of the vertebra and support the same, while the shorter ones, f, give an additional support over the region of the kidneys.

p 1) designate diagonal bones, which extend from the line of the long bones and above the short bones 19 111 the direction of the shoulder upon either side, so as to bear with a constant but gentle force upon the shoulder-blades and induce the expansion of the chest. The armpiece B has an offset, 1), and is attached to the piece A along the lines h to h and h to h. It will be observed that from the bones p and p to the front of the part B there are no bones, thus allowing the corresponding parts of the wearer to be confined only by a flexible giving covering. The filling-piece G is attached to the part B along the lines h to h and k to h and the front piece, D, is attached to the piece 0 along the lines h to h and h to h. These parts are cut to give the desired shape to the corset; but they are short and extend no farther than upon a level with the offset 1) of the part B. The piece B from the offsetb is provided with bones 19, 'as also are the pieces 0 and D, which extend down over the stomachic and upper abdominal regions, but these bones do not extend higher than the base of the breasts. The yoke A is left soft and flexible, and is secured to the extension of the part B, the part If being attached to the part along the line It to h, and it terminates in a front, S. having button-holes, as shown. The piece E is the breast-covering. It is of soft textile fabric, and may be of-very thin or open-work material. It has a convex side, 6, and a concave side, 6. The concave side is secured along the upper edges of the parts G D and into the offset b, while the convex side 6 is failed in and secured along the under side of the yoke A. The front of the parts D are secured detachahly by any of the ordinary clasps or buttons.

I am aware that an underwaist has been cut to form the back and yoke'in one piece, and that such an underwaist has been fitted. with a loose breast-part failed in in a somewhat similar manner, as seen in Patent No. 161,851, of 1875; but such device had no supportingbones, and in use and purpose was in all essential respects dissimilar to mine.

I deem it important that my improved corset gives free chestaction and freedom to the sides from confining-bones, while it supports the vertebra and the abdomen, is re-enforced over the region of the kidneys, and is stayed across the shoulder-blade, to induce the expansion of the chest. These various features go to make a combined shoulder-brace and corset which is peculiarly adapted for the service of supporting the female frame. It is yielding where support is required-that is to say, along the back, over the kidneys, and over the upper abdomen, and stomachic regions while the breasts are left free from compression. The sides and portions between the points 00 a: and m x of the Fig. 2 are free from bones, which make sidewise bending or reclining not difficult or uncomfortable, and the shoulders are supported with a constant force to throw out or expand the chest.

This improved corset is peculiarly adapted to allow the wearer to lie down or recline, the absence of bones at the side allowing one side to contract and the other to expand with the sides of the wearer.

In details of forms, 810., modifications may be made within wide limits without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention, the essential features of which will be understood from the forego ing description, taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of the same.

That I claim as new is A corset having a row of vertical bones, p 1), parallel to and on both sides of the backopening and extending its full length, short bonesin front extending up to the fulled breast portion, short bones p behind on both sides of the bones p, and diagonal bones 12, extend ing from their intersection with the bones p diagonally across the shoulder-blade portion to the arm-pit, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALVA H. TRAVER. Witnesses:

CHAS. 13. Wool), J. N. LEMEN. 

